Cami
Please Note: The dog in the accompanying photograph is the subject of the story, but the child or teenager pictured is probably not the patient in the story.Cami is an 8 year old big black Briard. She weighs 100 pounds and has lots of long hair.We have been visiting Shriner’s Hospital for over 5 years. We got involved in animal assisted therapy when we met Charlene, one of the founders of Love on 4 Paws, at a dog class at Rancho Park. Cami and I were attending obedience classes, and soon Cami passed the therapy dog test. It has been a very rewarding experience for both of us, and Cami’s excitement before our visits shows how much she enjoys our volunteering. My other Briard, Sassy, knows when we are going to “work”. She quietly lies down in her crate to wait for our return.
I met a young Mother who joined Love on 4 Paws because her child was so cheered by Cami that she wanted to do the same for other children. Her child kept the photo of Cami on the refrigerator and looked at it all the time. I was very touched when I was told about this and then was re-introduced to the Mother.
More recently, a 17 year old young woman was waiting with her father to be re-admitted to the hospital. They thought she was going to get an “all clear”, but instead, there was a problem. They were not happy. Seeing Cami and petting her and shaking hands with her cheered “Alana” immediately.
Alana reminded me that Cami and I had visited her and some of the other teen-age girls while she was in the hospital a month or so ago. She asked me if I thought she was old enough to join “Love on 4 Paws” because she wanted to get a dog and visit the hospital. She became very excited and asked many questions about training, testing, visiting, etc. After about 20 minutes, she seemed much more enthusiastic and ready to face her next step in the hospital and then, hopefully, in life.
Eight year old, ‘Sirena” was in Physical Therapy when we arrived. She was learning to walk with a walker, very reluctantly. Her eyes lit up when she saw Cami. She walked over to us, and then I gave her Cami’s leash. We (Cami, Sirena, the physical therapist, Sirena’s Mother, and I) all walked back and forth down the hall. With her new friend Cami by her side, Sirena willingly learned to use her new walker.
We also visit Atwater school. The classes consist of 8-10 three year olds with learning disabilities. When I enter the classroom, I always introduce myself and Cami. The children pet her, hug her, touch her nose, and, usually, her VERY long tongue. They brush her, walk her around the room and, generally, just enjoy her big “fluffiness”.
At the end of one visit, after I had said goodbye and started to walk to the exit, a small boy, Jessie, followed me to the door. He said, “Hi, I’m Jessie.”
I replied, “Hi, Jessie. This is Cami.”
The teacher, who was standing there, looked shocked. She explained that Jessie had never spoken before this.
It’s amazing what our therapy dogs can do!
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